Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind: 13 Things You Need To Know

posted by Dave Basner -

On May 16th, 1983, Iron Maidenreleased their fourth album,Piece of Mind. To celebrate the classic record's 35th anniversary, here are 13 things you might not know about it:

1.Piece of Mind was the band’s first album featuring drummerNicko McBrain, who came from the French heavy metal bandTrustto replace Clive Burr, who left Maiden over personal and touring issues.

2. Maiden wrote the songs for Piece of Mind at Jersey, England’s Le Chalet hotel. They rehearsed at the hotel’s restaurant.

3.Piece of Mind was recorded in Nassau, Bahamas.

4. The record was Maiden’s first to not be named after a song on the album. Instead, it got its title from the lyric “peace of mind” in the song “Still Life.”

5. The working title for the album wasFood for Thought.

6. The liner notes include an altered passage from the Book of Revelation. It says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more Death. Neither sorrow, nor crying. Neither shall there be any more brain; for the former things are passed away.” The second track on the album is “Revelations.”

7. On the back of the album cover, it says, “No synthesizers or ulterior motives.”

8. There is a hidden message in the song “Still Life.” When the song is played backwards, Nicko can be heard making fun of actor John Bird’s impression ofIdi Amin, saying, among other things, “Do not meddle with things you don’t understand.” The band put it in as a jab at critics who accused their songs of being Satanic.

9. “Flight of Icarus” was the band’s first single to be released in America.

10. “Flight of Icarus” uses the Greek myth of Icarus to tell a story of teenage rebellion against adult authority.

11. The track “To Tame a Land” was inspired by the 1965 sci-fi novel, Dune.